There is a twofold evil and miscarriage among us in the great foundation business of closing with Christ in the pro- mise. Some spend all their days in much darkness and dis- consolateness, disputing it to and fro in their own thoughts, whether their portion and interest lie therein or not. They are off and on, living and dying, hoping and fearing, and com- monly fear most when they have best hold, for that is the nature of doubting. When they are quite cast down, then they set themselves a work to get up ; and when they are up to any comfortable persuasion, instantly they fear that all is not well and right; it is not so with them as it should be ; and thus they stagger to and fro all their lives, to the grief of the Spirit of God, and the discomfort of their own souls.
Others beginning a serious closing with Christ upon abiding grounds, and finding it a work of difficulty and te- diousness to flesh and blood, relapse into generals, inquire no more, but take it for granted, that as much is done as they can accomplish, and so grow formal and secure.
To obviate both these evils I shall confirm the proposi-
TUF: STREXGTll OF FAITH. 307
tion laid down ; but before I proceed to that, I shall draw some corollaries that arise from what hath been spoken in the explication of the proposition already insisted on.
Corollary 1. Though a little, weak faith, where steadfast- ness is wanting, will carry a man to Christ and heaven, yet it will never carry him comfortably, nor pleasantly thither.
He who hath but a weak faith, shall be put to many des- perate plunges ; every blast of temptation shall cast him down from his consolation, if not turn him aside from his obedience. At best he is like a man bound in a chain on the top of a high tower; though he cannot fall, yet he can- not but fear, however it will have a good issue.
Corollary 2. The least true faith will do its work safely, though not so sweetly.
True faith in the least degree gives the soul a share in the first resurrection. It is of the vital principle which we re- ceive, when we are quickened. Now be it never so weak a life we have, yet it is a life that shall never fail. It is of the seed of God which abideth, incorruptible seed, that dieth not. A believer is spirit, is quickened from the dead, be he never so young, never so sick, never so weak, he is still alive, and the second death shall have no power over him. A little faith gives a whole Christ. He that hath the least faith, hath as true an interest, though not so clear an interest, in the righteousness of Christ, as the most steadfast believer. Others may be more holy than he, but not one in the world is more righteous than he ; for he is righteous with the righ- teousness of Christ. He cannot but be low in sanctification, for a little faith will bring forth but little or low obedience; if the root be weak, the fruit vi^ill not be great. But he is beneath none in justification. The most imperfect faith will give present justification, because it interests the soul in a present Christ. The lowest degree of true faith gives the highest completeness of righteousness, Col. ii. 10. You who have but a weak faith, have yet a strong Christ. So that though all the world should set itself against your little faith, it should not prevail. Sin cannot do it, Satan cannot do it, hell cannot do it. Though you take but weak and faint hold on Christ, he takes sure, strong, and unconquerable hold on you. Have you not often wondered, that this spark of hea- venly fire should be kept alive in the midst of the sea ? It is
308 thp: strength of faith.
everlasting, a spark tliat cannot be quenched, a drop of that fountain that can never be wholly dried up. Jesus Christ takes special care of them that are weak in faith, Isa. xl. 11. On what account soever they are sick, and weak, and unable, this good shepherd takes care of them; 'he shall rule, and they shall abide;' Micah v. 4.
Corollary 3. There may be faith, a little faith, where there wants steadfastness, and is much doubting.
Steadfastness is an eminent qualification that all attain not to ; so that there may be faith where there is doubting, though I do not say there must be. Doubtings in them- selves are opposite to believing. They are, if I may so s y, unbelieving. A man can hardly believe all his days and never doubt ; but a man may doubt all his days, and never believe. If I see a field overgrown with thistles and weeds, I can say, there may be corn there ; but yet the thistles and weeds are not corn. I speak this, because some have no bet- ter bottom for their quiet, than that they have been disqui- eted, that they have doubted. Doubting may be where faith is ; but we cannot conclude, that where there is doubt- ing, there is faith; for they may rise against presumption and security, as well as against believing. Yet observe there is a twofold doubting ;